Students, please sleep when you're not on the bus

I'm a little worried about some of you, as it doesn't seem as if you're getting enough sleep these days.

Today on my morning commute, I counted at least three sleeping students, including the man seated next to me, who kept nodding off and leaning on me. A sleepy student across the aisle practically had her head on the shoulder of the rider next to her.

Now, you may not realize this considering you are fast asleep, but when you take up other people's personal space, it's incredibly rude. Also I don't like people drooling on me, call it a weird personal preference.

As the days get shorter, so do tempers—I'm not going to apologize for elbowing you when you decide to nap on me, nor should anyone else. So on behalf of myself, my fellow wide-awake riders, and your potentially bruised ribs, would you please go to bed early tonight?

It's eight or nine weeks into the semester; you should have adapted to your class schedules by now. There is no reason for you to be napping on your fellow bus riders anymore. I don't know why you're staying up so late, but stop. Stop staying up till the wee hours cramming for your exams. No more late-night video-game sessions. Try not to party too hard on weeknights.

And try to get some quality sleep. Drinking caffeine and alcohol interfere with your natural sleep cycle, as does smoking, so try to avoid those in the hours before you hit the hay. Don't pass out with your TV blaring or your computer in your lap. Always go to bed around the same time.

A multitude of studies show that getting enough sleep is critical to postsecondary academic success, which means you need to sleep at least six hours and probably more like seven or eight. And that's every night; you can't make up the hours on the weekends.

A lack of sleep often leads to irritability, weight gain, and more frequent illnesses, so it's in everybody's best interest for you to just go the fuck to bed.

RUK

The freedom, the license, the unconcerned ability to sleep does say something flattering about the safety or perceived safety of the Vancouver transist system, whatever its failings.

I myself, on the rare occasion when it is too icy to bike, am wide awake, clutching supports against the motion and to defend my position nearest to the doorway where welcoming draughts of non-tubercular air might conceivably come my way.

DavidH

Nov 7, 2013 at 1:16pm

I'm disappointed by this revelation. There are students who actually fall asleep on a train or bus?

So, what about their Twitter feeds and Facebook accounts during this shocking downtime? Is Janet's description and photo of her McMuffin no longer important? Bob's bowel movement manifesto is ignored by snoring students? What is happening in the world, for heaven's sake?

According to the stock market, Twitter is worth something like $31 billion today. How can that real value be sustained if people doze off and drool when they should be tweeting?

Ken

Nov 7, 2013 at 1:26pm

Is this news??? Why are you printing the opinion of a cold, uncaring woman who can't even empathize with students on a long, boring commute to school? This article is a joke. Miranda, you are the a-typical passive aggressive Vancouverite, who would rather PRINT A NEWS ARTICLE about something that irritates you, instead of politely engaging a person and expressing your point of view. SMDH

Anonymooser

Nov 7, 2013 at 1:27pm

Personal space? Personal preferences? You're taking public transit. All those elements fly out the window when you step through the bus door. If you want to be comfortable while traveling, unfortunately, that means paying for a car, license, insurance, gas, and parking. For some people, that means unaffordable. For others, that's a reason to work harder to guarantee some comfort.

GregEh

Nicholas Ellan

Nov 7, 2013 at 1:54pm

I love sleeping on the bus, and I also love people who do it. Let's be honest here - it is the the cutest thing EVER. It doesn't matter who you are. Everyone is automatically more loveable when they are asleep on a bus.

If I had my way, the back of every B-Line was a non-stop slumber party, complete with pillows and blankets. Bus-drivers could hand out slippers as you board. It'd be like the plane, but with way more legroom.